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Friday, 06 December 2024 07:56
Indonesia and Thailand Forge Closer Ties Through New Collaborations
Written by Daniel
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VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia and Thailand, two ASEAN nations with a longstanding history of close ties, are continuing to strengthen their bilateral partnership amidst fresh leadership in both countries. The newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand present a timely opportunity to explore new avenues of collaboration and further deepen the bonds between the two nations.
"Our robust bilateral relations, grounded in mutual respect and shared values, have fostered cooperation across a broad spectrum, including trade, investment, security, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges," remarked Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. He delivered this statement during the National Day celebrations of the Kingdom of Thailand in Jakarta on Wednesday (4 December), an event that also commemorated the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday.
Economic collaboration stands as a cornerstone of this relationship. In 2022, bilateral trade reached an unprecedented high of over USD19 billion, with figures for 2023 nearing USD17.5 billion. Furthermore, Thailand’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia recorded significant growth, with more than 450 projects totalling USD185.5 million in the previous year.
Minister Airlangga underscored the importance of expanding engagement across all levels, from government and business leaders to community interactions. “There remains a wealth of untapped potential. President Prabowo’s priorities on food and energy security, alongside his free and active foreign policy, align seamlessly with our shared objectives,” he asserted.
Looking ahead, Indonesia and Thailand—set to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2025—are poised to play pivotal roles in advancing regional progress. As founding members of ASEAN, the two nations remain deeply interconnected in their shared journey towards regional prosperity. They also lend their support to frameworks such as the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which, according to Airlangga, “is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits to all ASEAN member states.”
Beyond ASEAN, both countries are carving out greater prominence on the global stage, with moves toward membership in BRICS and the OECD. Minister Airlangga emphasised that closer collaboration in these organisations will amplify the voice of developing nations, foster South-South cooperation, and create meaningful impacts on the global development landscape.
In concluding his remarks, Airlangga extended his warm congratulations to the new Thai administration, expressing hope for the continued growth of bilateral and regional relations. "May our partnership flourish evermore," he declared.
The event was graced by an array of prominent figures, including the Chair of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), the Minister of Tourism, Thailand’s Ambassador to Indonesia, as well as diplomatic representatives from various friendly nations. The occasion vividly illustrated Indonesia and Thailand’s shared commitment to strengthening cooperation for mutual
prosperity.
Source: ekon.go.id
Published in
Indonesia Today
